Sealed cooling system for internalcombustion engines



March23, 1954 J. L, DUNNlGAN Y 2,672,853

SEALED COOLING SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINS Filed April 18, 1952 43 tightened around the container 22 by an adjusting bolt 44 and held to the cowl by screws 45. The operation is as follows: The container is filled With enough Water 46 to cover the ends of tubes, usually about 2 inches from bottom of the container. The radiator and cooling system is filled with the cooling medium such as water or Water including an anti-freeze compound up to a suitable level such as the overow outlet. If below that level initial ov-erboiling lls the radiator up to the inlet. If the system is filled above the outlet, or the overboil rises above the same, the surplus passes through pipe 35 into the container 22, where rust 4l settles to the bottom, and grease congeals and stays trapped and other foreign matter is trapped, and steam is condensed and air is released. The pump pulls liquid from the bottom of the radiator and container at same time and causes more liquid to be delivered to the top of the radiator than the cor-e will take. This excess amount of liquid rises to the top of the radiator and forces the air, steam, grease, dirt, etc., and excess uid back to the container where the air is released through the release valve, steam is condensed in center condensing and inlet tube 23 and the grease is congealed, and floats at the top of the container liquid, and dirt enters the container out of direct circulation, and the filter screen 21 prevents the foreign materials from returning to the system. When the engine stops and cools it contracts and causes a vacuum which pulls liquid from container back to the system, because the inlet and outlet tubes being located below the water line in the container seals the system, allowing air and steam to escape, and the cleansed liquid to be returned to the system. The container can be used for testing a cooling system in the following manner. If the container fills to top, radiator is clogged, or thermostat fails to open. If container empties, it indicates there are leaks somewhere in the system. If air bubbl-es are observed rising to the top of the container, it indicates air is being sucked into the system through the head gasket, cracked head or engine block, worn pump shaft or packing. It is safe to operate the engine as long as two inches of liquid is in the container. If one inch of rust or other solids are visible, the container should be cleaned and refilled to water line.

While but one general form of the invention is shown in the drawings and described in the speciication, it is not desired to limit this application for patent to this particular form as it is appreciated that other forms of construction could be made that would use the same principles and come Within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

l. The combination with an internal combustion engine and a sealed unit liquid cooling system therefore including a pump, a radiator having a filling neck, a sealed closure therefor, an overflow outlet near the upper end thereof, a container having an inlet attached to said overflow outlet, an outlet projecting from said container connected to the pump, a hose from said engine to radiator, a thermostat positioned between the engine and hose, and a bypass loop positioned between the pump and hose.

2. The combination with an internal combustion engine and a sealed unit liquid cooling system therefore including a pump, a radiator having a filling neck, a sealed closure therefor, an

overflow outlet near the upper end thereof, a container having an inlet attached to said overflow outlet, an outlet projecting from said container connected to the pump, a hose from said engine to radiator, a thermostat positioned between the engine and hose, a by-pass loop positioned between the pump and hose, said inlet positioned in said outlet.

3. The combination with an internal combustion engine and a sealed unit liquid cooling system therefore including a pump, a radiator having a lling neck, a sealed closure therefor, an overflow outlet near the upper end thereof, a container having an inlet attached to said overiiow outlet, an outlet projecting from said container connected to the pump, a hose from said engine to radiator, a thermostat positioned between the engine and hose, a by-pass loop positioned between the pumpand hose, said inlet positioned in said outlet, and a screen enclosing the end of said outlet.

4. The combination with an internal combustion engine and a sealed unit liquid cooling system therefore including a pump, a radiator having a filling neck, a sealed closure therefor, an overflow outlet near the upper end thereof, a container having an inlet attached to said overflow outlet, an outlet projecting from said contain-er connected to the pump, a hose from said engine to radiator, a thermostat positioned between the engine and hose, a by-pass loop positioned between the pump and hose, said inlet positioned in said outlet, a screen enclosing the end of said outlet, and a removable closure for said container.

5. The combination vwith an internal combustion engine and a sealed unit liquid cooling system therefore including a pump a radiator having a filling neck, a sealed closure therefor, an overflow outlet near the upper end thereof, a container having an inlet attach-ed to said overflow outlet, an outlet projecting from said container connected to the pump, a hose from said engine to radiator, a thermostat positioned between the engine and hose, a by-pass loop positioned between the pump and hose, said inlet positioned in said outlet, a screen enclosing the end of said outlet, a removable closure for said container, and a r-elief valve positioned in said container.

6. The combination with an internal combustion engine and a sealed unit liquid cooling system therefore including a pump a radiator having a lling neck, a sealed closure therefor, an overow outlet near the upper end thereof, a container having an inlet attached to said overflow outlet, an outlet projecting from said container connected to the pump, a hose from said engine to radiator, a thermostat positioned between the engine and hose, a by-pass loop positioned between the pump and hose, said inlet positioned in said outlet, a screen enclosing the end of said outlet, a removable closure for said container, a relief valve positioned in said container, and a vacuum relief valve operable in said container.

JOSEPH L. DUNNIGAN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Welge May 1'7, 1921 

